Apparatus for and method of designating a point on displayed image, and readable recording medium storing program for designating a point on displayed image

ABSTRACT

A manual controller of a video game system has a plurality of control switches for controlling the motion of an image displayed on a display screen, and an analog joystick for designating a point in a given area on the displayed image. When the analog joystick is operated by the game player of the video game system, it is tilted to a position in a desired direction in a two-dimensional plane, and outputs a positional signal depending on the tilted position thereof. A coordinate transforming unit converts first and second two-dimensional coordinates of the tilted position respectively into third and fourth two-dimensional coordinates of an image position with respect to a predetermined reference position on the displayed image, with a first conversion constant for converting the first coordinate into the third coordinate and a second conversion constant, which is different from the first conversion constant, for converting the second coordinate into the fourth coordinate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for and a method ofdesignating, with a manual controller, a certain point within a givenarea having different vertical and horizontal dimensions, such as apolygonal area, an elliptical area, etc. on an image displayed on animage display unit, and a readable recording medium which stores aprogram for designating a certain point within a given area on an imagedisplayed on an image display unit.

2. Prior Art

Heretofore, images displayed on the display screen of the image displayunit of a video game system such as a television game system arecontrolled in their movement by the game player with a plurality ofcontrol switches on a manual controller. Certain video games require thegame player to designate a certain point on displayed images. In a videobaseball game, for example, it is necessary for the game player todesignate a position where the pitcher is to pitch the baseball(hereinafter referred to as a "pitching position"), or a position wherethe batter is to swing the bat (hereinafter referred to as a "swingingposition"). It has been customary for the game player to designate sucha position by operating a digital joystick such as a cross key.

When the digital joystick is operated, a contact position thereof whichis displayed on the displayed image moves two-dimensionally in fourdirections to a point where the digital joystick outputs a correspondingpositional signal. The contact position based on the positional signalis converted by a coordinate transforming unit into an image positionthat is expressed as X and Y coordinates with respect to a referencepoint on the display screen of the image display unit.

When the contact position based on the positional signal is convertedinto the image position by the coordinate transforming unit, aconversion constant used to convert the contact position into the Xcoordinate and a conversion constant used to convert the contactposition into the Y coordinate are the same as each other. Therefore,the game player of the video baseball game can only designate a pitchingposition only within a square area on the displayed image though anactual strike zone is displayed as a vertically long rectangular shapeon the displayed image. Such limitations have failed to make the videobaseball game realistic.

It has been known to designate a position on a displayed image with ananalog joystick which is capable of continuously generatingtwo-dimensional coordinates in relation to positions on the displayedimage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anapparatus for and a method of designating, with a joystick, a certainpoint within a given area having different vertical and horizontaldimensions, such as a polygonal area, an elliptical area, etc. on animage displayed on an image display unit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a readablerecording medium which stores a program for designating a certain pointwithin a given area on an image displayed on an image display unit.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided anapparatus for designating a position in an area on a displayed image,comprising image display means for displaying an image on a displayscreen, designating means for designating a point in a predeterminedarea having different vertical and horizontal dimensions on the imagedisplayed on the display screen, the designating means including ajoystick tiltable in a two-dimensional direction for generating apositional signal depending on a tilted position thereof and acoordinate transforming unit for converting first and secondtwo-dimensional coordinates of the tilted position based on thepositional signal respectively into third and fourth two-dimensionalcoordinates of an image position with respect to a predeterminedreference position on the displayed image, with a first conversionconstant for converting the first coordinate into the third coordinateand a second conversion constant, which is different from the firstconversion constant, for converting the second coordinate into thefourth coordinate.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of designating a position in an area on a displayed image,comprising the steps of displaying an image on a display screen,designating a point in a predetermined area having different verticaland horizontal dimensions on the image displayed on the display screen,with a joystick tiltable in a two-dimensional direction for generating apositional signal depending on a tilted position thereof, and convertingfirst and second two-dimensional coordinates of the tilted positionbased on the positional signal respectively into third and fourthtwo-dimensional coordinates of an image position with respect to apredetermined reference position on the displayed image, with a firstconversion constant for converting the first coordinate into the thirdcoordinate and a second conversion constant, which is different from thefirst conversion constant, for converting the second coordinate into thefourth coordinate.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a readable recording medium storing a program for designating aposition in an area on a displayed image by displaying an image on adisplay screen, designating a point in a predetermined area havingdifferent vertical and horizontal dimensions on the image displayed onthe display screen, with a joystick tiltable in a two-dimensionaldirection for generating a positional signal depending on a tiltedposition thereof, and converting first and second two-dimensionalcoordinates of the tilted position based on the positional signalrespectively into third and fourth two-dimensional coordinates of animage position with respect to a predetermined reference position on thedisplayed image, with a first conversion constant for converting thefirst coordinate into the third coordinate and a second conversionconstant, which is different from the first conversion constant, forconverting the second coordinate into the fourth coordinate.

According to yet still another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an apparatus for designating a position in an area on adisplayed image, comprising an image display unit for displaying animage, a joystick, tiltable to a tilted position in a two-dimensionaldirection, for designating a point in a predetermined area havingdifferent vertical and horizontal dimensions on the displayed image, anda coordinate transforming unit for converting first and secondtwo-dimensional coordinates of the tilted position respectively intothird and fourth two-dimensional coordinates of an image position withrespect to a predetermined reference position on the displayed image,with a first conversion constant for converting the first coordinateinto the third coordinate and a second conversion constant, which isdifferent from the first conversion constant, for converting the secondcoordinate into the fourth coordinate.

When the joystick is tilted, it outputs a positional signal depending onthe tilted position, and the tilted position based on the positionalsignal is converted into an image position on the displayed image usingdifferent conversion constants for one set of two-dimensionalcoordinates and the other set of two-dimensional coordinates. Therefore,the area on the displayed image in which the point can be designated isof an elongate rectangular shape (or an elliptical shape) rather than asquare shape (or a circular shape.

The image displayed on the display screen may be an image of a videobaseball game, and the designated point may represent a pitchingposition in which a pitcher is to pitch a baseball or a swingingposition in which a batter is to swing a bat.

The designated point may represent selectively a pitching position inwhich a pitcher is to pitch a baseball and a swinging position in whicha batter is to swing a bat, and the first and second two-dimensionalcoordinates may be converted respectively into the third and fourthtwo-dimensional coordinates with different sets of the first and secondconversion constants respectively for the point representing thepitching position and the point representing the swinging position.

The point representing the pitching position may be designated in afirst area and the point representing the swinging position may bedesignated in a second area, the second area being included in the firstarea and smaller than the first area.

With the swinging and pitching positions being thus designatable, thegame player of the video baseball game can enjoy the video baseball gamewith substantially the same realistic feeling as when playing actualbaseball matches.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate apreferred embodiment of the present invention by way of example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a manual controller of an apparatus fordesignating a point within a given area on a displayed image accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a view showing an image displayed on an image display unitwhen a video baseball game is being played on a video game systemcombined with the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a square range of coordinates of the contactposition of a joystick to be converted into a vertically longrectangular range of coordinates to be displayed on the image displayunit;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an operation sequence of the video baseballgame in a batting mode;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an operation sequence of the video baseballgame in a pitching mode; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an image displayed on the image display unitwhen a video soccer game is being played on a video game system combinedwith the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An apparatus for designating a point within a given area on a displayedimage according to the present invention has a manual controller 1 shownin FIG. 1. The apparatus typically incorporated in a video game systemfor playing a video game which will be described as a video baseballgame in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the manual controller 1 has a start button 2 forstarting a video game, a selector button 3 for selecting a pitching modeor a batting mode, a cancel button 4, a plurality of control switches 5for controlling the motion of an image that will be displayed on adisplay screen, and an analog joystick 6 for designating a point in agiven area on the displayed image.

The analog joystick 6 is used to designate a pitching position or aswinging position in a given area on a displayed image of the videobaseball game. When the analog joystick 6 is operated by the game playerof the video baseball game, it is tilted to a position in a desireddirection in a two-dimensional plane, and outputs a positional signaldepending on the tilted position thereof. The analog joystick 6 is alsoused to move the position of any of the fielders in the video baseballgame.

The manual controller 1 also has a digital joystick 7 comprising a crosskey. As with the analog joystick 6, the digital joystick 7 also servesto designate a pitching position or a swinging position in a given areaon a displayed image of the video baseball game.

As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus according to the present invention hasa central processing unit (CPU) 9 for carrying out the video baseballgame according to a game program and control signals supplied from themanual controller 1. The apparatus also includes a display controller 10and a cathode-ray tube (CRT) 11 as an image display unit, which jointlyconstitute an image display means 12 for displaying an image based ongiven image data. The display controller 10 controls the CRT 11 todisplay images of the video baseball game on the display screen of theCRT 11. When control signals are supplied from the control switches 5 ofthe manual controller 1 to the CPU 9, the CPU 9 supplies display controlsignals to the display controller 10 for moving the displayed imagedepending on the control signals according to the game program. The gameprogram is stored in a recording medium such as an internal ROM or aremovable ROM cartridge, for example, in the video game system, and canbe read by the CPU 9. The CRT 11 may be replaced with another displayunit such as a liquid crystal display panel, a plasma display panel, orthe like.

The positional signal from the analog joystick 6 is supplied through theCPU 9 to a coordinate transforming unit 13, which converts a contactposition expressed as x and y coordinates of the joystick 6 based on thepositional signal into an image position expressed as X and Ycoordinates with respect to a reference point on the displayed image.

FIG. 3 shows an image displayed on the display screen of the CRT 11 bythe display controller 10 under the control of the CPU 9 when the videobaseball game is being played. The displayed image contains a batter Aand a catcher C at a home plate D, the batter A and the catcher Cwaiting for a baseball to be thrown by a pitcher (not shown). As shownin FIG. 3, a strike zone S shown hatched which is positioned withrespect to the batter A is usually vertically long rectangular shape onthe displayed image. Since the pitcher may throw a baseball that isdeclared either a strike or a ball, a pitch zone B is of a verticallylong rectangular shape greater than the strike zone S. The game playercan designate a swinging position within the strike zone S, and can alsodesignate a pitching position within the pitch zone B. However, if thebatter A is to hit a ball, the game player can designate a swingingposition within a zone greater than the strike zone S. Usually, thepitch zone B is greater-than such a zone greater than the strike zone S.Therefore, the game player can designate a pitching position within thepitch zone B but outside of such a zone greater than the strike zone S,in an attempt to give the batter A a deliberate walk. The game playercan designate a pitching position in the pitching mode or a swingingposition in the batting mode after having selected the pitching mode orthe batting mode with the selector button 3. Alternatively, if the videobaseball game is to proceed as a match between two baseball teams, thenthe baseball teams change their positions as batters and fielders eachtime three baseball players of the batting team are put out.

When the game player tilts the analog joystick 6 in any direction within360° in the two-dimensional plane, the contact position of the analogjoystick 6 moves two-dimensionally in a circle having a given radius inan x-y coordinate system as shown in FIG. 4. Heretofore, coordinates ina square (shown by the dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 4) within the circleare converted into coordinates in a square in an X-Y coordinate systemon the displayed image, and a conversion constant for converting xcoordinates into X coordinates is the same as a conversion constant forconverting y coordinates into Y coordinates. According to the presentinvention, however, the coordinate transforming unit 13 has differentconversion constants for converting x, y coordinates into X, Ycoordinates, respectively. Therefore, the square within the circle shownin FIG. 4 is converted into vertically long rectangular shapes such asthe vertically long rectangular shapes S, B (see FIG. 3) in the X-Ycoordinate system on the displayed image. The game player can nowdesignate the pitching and the swinging positions within the verticallylong rectangular shapes, using the analog joystick 6.

The coordinate transforming unit 13 converts the coordinates such thatthe square shown in FIG. 4 corresponds to the pitch zone B in thepitching mode, and corresponds to the strike zone S in the batting mode.Therefore, the conversion constants for converting x, y coordinates intoX, Y coordinates, respectively, are changed between the pitching modeand the batting mode. However, as described above, conversion constantsfor converting x, y coordinates into X, Y coordinates, respectively, aredifferent from each other in each of the pitching mode and the battingmode.

Operation sequences of the video baseball game in the batting mode andthe pitching mode will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and6.

The operation sequence of the video baseball game in the batting modewill first be described below with reference to FIG. 5. As shown in FIG.5, when the game player operates the analog joystick 6 to designate aswinging position, the coordinate transforming unit 13 converts thecoordinates of the contact position of the analog joystick 6 into thecoordinates of a swing position, which is established in the strike zoneS (see FIG. 3) on the display screen in a step S1. When the baseballthrown by the pitcher passes above the home plate D, the game playeroperates one of the control switches 5 to cause the batter A to swingthe bat in a step S2. If the bat hits the baseball, then the CPU 6controls the display controller 10 to change the displayed image to afield image. The game player then operates the manual controller 1 tocontrol movement of the runner in the field image.

The operation sequence of the video baseball game in the pitching modewill be described below with reference to FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6,the game player operates one of the control switches 5 to select a pitchto be thrown by the pitcher A in a step T1. When the game playeroperates the analog joystick 6 to designate a pitching position, thecoordinate transforming unit 13 converts the coordinates of the contactposition of the analog joystick 6 into the coordinates of a pitchingposition, which is established in the pitch zone B (see FIG. 3) on thedisplay screen in a step T2. The game player operates one of the controlswitches 5 to cause the pitcher to start throwing the pitch in a stepT3. The CPU 9 controls the display controller 10 to move the image ofthe baseball displayed on the display screen in a step T4. The CPU 9then determines whether the bat hits the baseball or not in a step T5.If the bat does not hit the baseball ("NO" in the step T5), then the CPU9 controls the display controller 10 to display the catcher C as hecatches the baseball in a step T6.

If the bat hits the baseball ("YES" in the step T5), then the CPU 6controls the display controller 10 to change the displayed image to afield image, switching from pitcher control to fielder control in a stepT7. Then, after having confirmed the hit baseball in a step T8, the CPU6 basically selects a fielder closest to the hit baseball in a step T9.The game player operates the analog joystick 6 to move the selectedfielder in a step T10. In the step T10, the direction in and the speedat which the fielder moves are determined by the direction in and thedepth to which the analog joystick 6 is tiled. If the moved fieldertouches the baseball, the fielder is interpreted as catching thebaseball in a step T11. Then, the baseball is delivered from the fielderto a fielder on a base or a fielder in between in a step T12.

The game player can designate a swinging position in the vertically longrectangular strike zone S and also a pitching position in the verticallylong rectangular pitch zone B that is wider than the strike zone S.Therefore, the game player can enjoy the video baseball game withsubstantially the same realistic feeling as when playing actual baseballmatches.

The apparatus according to the present invention may be combined with avideo game system for playing a video soccer game. In the video soccergame, the game player uses the analog joystick 6 to designate a shootingposition for a penalty-kick in the video soccer game. Specifically, asshown in FIG. 7, the square shown in FIG. 4 is converted into ahorizontally long rectangular shape substantially equal to a shoot zonesurrounded by a goal post G on the displayed image in the video soccergame, and the game player designates a shooting position for apenalty-kick in the shoot zone.

According to the present invention, one or both of the conversionconstants for converting x, y coordinates into X, Y coordinates,respectively, may be modified depending on the displayed image forconversion of the coordinates of the contact position of the analogjoystick 6 into the coordinates of an image position on the displayedimage. The game player is thus allowed to designate a desired point inan area depending on the displayed image.

The principles of the present invention are applicable to various videogame systems for playing various games, other than the video baseballgame and the video soccer game, insofar as they use an analog joystickfor designating a desired point in a given area on the displayed image.

Although a certain preferred embodiment of the present invention hasbeen shown and described in detail, it should be understood that variouschanges and modifications may be made therein without departing from thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for designating a position in anarea on a displayed image, comprising:image display means for displayingan image on a display screen; designating means for designating a pointin a predetermined area having different vertical and horizontaldimensions on the image displayed on the display screen; saiddesignating means including a joystick tiltable in a two-dimensionaldirection for generating a positional signal corresponding to a tiltedposition thereof; and a coordinate transforming unit for convertingfirst and second two-dimensional coordinates of said tilted positionbased on said positional signal respectively into third and fourthtwo-dimensional coordinates of an image position with respect to apredetermined reference position on said displayed image, with a firstconversion constant for converting the first coordinate into the thirdcoordinate and a second conversion constant, which is different fromsaid first conversion constant, for converting the second coordinateinto the fourth coordinate.
 2. an apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said image display means comprises means for displaying an imageof a video baseball game, and said point designated by said designatingmeans represents a pitching position in which a pitcher is to pitch abaseball.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said imagedisplay means comprises means for displaying an image of a videobaseball game, and said point designated by said designating meansrepresents a swinging position in which a batter is to swing a bat. 4.An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image display meanscomprises means for displaying an image of a video baseball game, andsaid point designated by said designating means represents selectively apitching position in which a pitcher is to pitch a baseball and aswinging position in which a batter is to swing a bat, and wherein saidcoordinate transforming unit comprises means for converting said firstand second two-dimensional coordinates respectively into said third andfourth two-dimensional coordinates with different sets of said first andsecond conversion constants respectively for the point representing saidpitching position and the point representing said swinging position. 5.An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said designating meanscomprises means for designating the point representing said pitchingposition in a first area and designating the point representing saidswinging position in a second area, said second area being included insaid first area and smaller than said first area.
 6. A method ofdesignating a position in an area on a displayed image, comprising thesteps of:displaying an image on a display screen; designating a point ina predetermined area having different vertical and horizontal dimensionson the image displayed on the display screen, with a joystick tiltablein a two-dimensional direction for generating a positional signalcorresponding to a tilted position thereof; and converting first andsecond two-dimensional coordinates of said tilted position based on saidpositional signal respectively into third and fourth two-dimensionalcoordinates of an image position with respect to a predeterminedreference position on said displayed image, with a first conversionconstant for converting the first coordinate into the third coordinateand a second conversion constant, which is different from said firstconversion constant, for converting the second coordinate into thefourth coordinate.
 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said stepof displaying comprises the step of displaying an image of a videobaseball game, and the designated point represents a pitching positionin which a pitcher is to pitch a baseball.
 8. A method according toclaim 6, wherein said step of displaying comprises the step ofdisplaying an image of a video baseball game, and the designated pointrepresents a swinging position in which a batter is to swing a bat.
 9. Amethod according to claim 6, wherein said step of displaying comprisesthe step of displaying an image of a video baseball game, and thedesignated point represents selectively a pitching position in which apitcher is to pitch a baseball and a swinging position in which a batteris to swing a bat, and wherein said step of converting comprises thestep of converting said first and second two-dimensional coordinatesrespectively into said third and fourth two-dimensional coordinates withdifferent sets of said first and second conversion constantsrespectively for the point representing said pitching position and thepoint representing said swinging position.
 10. A method according toclaim 9, wherein said step of designating comprises steps of designatingthe point representing said pitching position in a first area anddesignating the point representing said swinging position in a secondarea, said second area being included in said first area and smallerthan said first area.
 11. A computer-readable medium having storedthereon program data comprising executable code for execution by acomputer processor causing said computer processor to perform the stepsof:designating a position in an area on a displayed image by displayingan image on a display screen; designating a point in a predeterminedarea having different vertical and horizontal dimensions on the imagedisplayed on the display screen, with a joystick tiltable in atwo-dimensional direction for generating a positional signalcorresponding to a tilted position thereof; and converting first andsecond two-dimensional coordinates of said tilted position based on saidpositional signal respectively into third and fourth two-dimensionalcoordinates of an image position with respect to a predeterminedreference position on said displayed image, with a first conversionconstant for converting the first coordinate into the third coordinateand a second conversion constant, which is different from said firstconversion constant, for converting the second coordinate into thefourth coordinate.
 12. A computer-readable medium according to claim 11,wherein said image displayed on the display screen comprises an image ofa video baseball game, and the designated point represents a pitchingposition in which a pitcher is to pitch a baseball.
 13. Acomputer-readable medium according to claim 11, wherein said imagedisplayed on the display screen comprises an image of a video baseballgame, and the designated point represents a swinging position in which abatter is to swing a bat.
 14. A computer-readable medium according toclaim 11, wherein said image displayed on the display screen comprisesan image of a video baseball game, and the designated point representsselectively a pitching position in which a pitcher is to pitch abaseball and a swinging position in which a batter is to swing a bat,and wherein said first and second two-dimensional coordinates areconverted respectively into said third and fourth two-dimensionalcoordinates with different sets of said first and second conversionconstants respectively for the point representing said pitching positionand the point representing said swinging position.
 15. Acomputer-readable medium according to claim 14, wherein the pointrepresenting said pitching position is designated in a first area andthe point representing said swinging position is designated in a secondarea, said second area being included in said first area and smallerthan said first area.
 16. An apparatus for designating a position in anarea on a displayed image, comprising:an image display unit fordisplaying an image; a joystick, tiltable to a tilted position in atwo-dimensional direction, for designating a point corresponding to saidtilted position in a predetermined area having different vertical andhorizontal dimensions on the displayed image; and a coordinatetransforming unit for converting first and second two-dimensionalcoordinates of said tilted position respectively into third and fourthtwo-dimensional coordinates of an image position with respect to apredetermined reference position on said displayed image, with a firstconversion constant for converting the first coordinate into the thirdcoordinate and a second conversion constant, which is different fromsaid first conversion constant, for converting the second coordinateinto the fourth coordinate.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 16,wherein said displayed image comprises an image of a video baseballgame, and said designated point represents a pitching position in whicha pitcher is to pitch a baseball.
 18. An apparatus according to claim16, wherein said displayed image comprises an image of a video baseballgame, and said designated point represents a swinging position in whicha battery is to swing a bat.
 19. An apparatus according to claim 16,wherein said displayed image comprises an image of a video baseballgame, and said designated point represents selectively a pitchingposition in which a pitcher is to pitch a baseball and a swingingposition in which a battery is to swing a bat.
 20. An apparatusaccording to claim 16, wherein said displayed image comprises an imageof a video soccer game, and said designated point represents selectivelya shooting position for a penalty-kick in the video soccer game.
 21. Anapparatus for designating a position in an area on a displayed image,comprising:image display means for displaying an image on a displayscreen; designating means for designating a point in a predeterminedarea having different vertical and horizontal dimensions on the imagedisplayed on the display screen; said designating means including ajoystick tiltable in a two-dimensional direction for generating apositional signal corresponding to a tilted position thereof, a maximumtilted position of the joystick in the two-dimensional directioncorresponding to an extreme position of the predetermined area, and anon-tilted position of the joystick corresponding to a central positionof the predetermined area; and a coordinate transforming unit forconverting first and second two-dimensional coordinates of said tiltedposition based on said positional signal respectively into third andfourth two-dimensional coordinates of an image position with respect toa predetermined reference position on said displayed image, with a firstconversion constant for converting the first coordinate into the thirdcoordinate and a second conversion constant, which is different fromsaid first conversion constant, for converting the second coordinateinto the fourth coordinate.
 22. An apparatus for designating a positionin an area on a displayed image, comprising:a display unit fordisplaying an image; a joystick, movable in a two-dimensional directionfrom a non-tilted position to a tilted position in which it is deflectedat a deflection angle relative said non-tilted position, the joystickgenerating a positional signal representative of the deflection angleand the two-dimensional direction in which is deflected; and acoordinate transforming unit for converting first and secondtwo-dimensional coordinates based upon the positional signal of saidtilted position respectively into third and fourth two-dimensionalcoordinates of an image position with respect to a predeterminedreference position on said displayed image, the coordinate transformingunit utilizing a first conversion constant for converting the firstcoordinate into the third coordinate and a second conversion constant,which is different from said first conversion constant, for convertingthe second coordinate into the fourth coordinate.
 23. A method ofdesignating a point location on a displayed image which incudes apredetermined area having different vertical and horizontal dimensions,comprising the steps of:moving a joystick, in a two-dimensionaldirection at a particular angle of defection relative a non-tiltedposition thereof, to a tilted position; generating a positional signalcorresponding to the tilted position; and converting first and secondtwo-dimensional coordinates of said tilted position based on saidpositional signal respectively into third and fourth two-dimensionalcoordinates of an image position with respect to a predeterminedreference position on said displayed image using a first conversionconstant for converting the first coordinate into the third coordinateand a second conversion constant, which is different from said firstconversion constant, for converting the second coordinate into thefourth coordinate.
 24. A method according to claim 23, furthercomprising:selectively dimensioning the predetermined area as a firstarea and a second area; and using different sets of said first andsecond conversion constants respectively for conversions of said firstand second coordinates relating to each of said first and second areas.25. A method according to claim 24, wherein said second area is smallerthan said first area, said second area being included within said firstarea.
 26. A method according to claim 23, wherein:said image isrepresentative of a video baseball game; and the designated pointrepresents a pitching position in which a pitcher is to pitch abaseball.
 27. A method according to claim 23, wherein:said image isrepresentative of a video baseball game; and the designated pointrepresents a swinging position in which a pitcher is to pitch abaseball.
 28. A method according to claim 25, wherein:said image isrepresentative of a video baseball game; and said first area correspondsto a pitch zone and said second area corresponds to a strike zone.